In a significant development, the Federal Government has granted approval to exempt universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). Remunerations for staff members of these institutions will no longer be processed through the IPPIS platform.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this decision after the Federal Executive Council meeting, emphasizing that the move allows tertiary institutions the freedom to independently manage their affairs.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, clarified that the decision aims to enhance the efficient administration of public educational institutions nationwide. He highlighted that the concern is not related to the integrity of IPPIS or alternative systems like the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) advocated by various bodies.
This development follows a prolonged disagreement between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the government regarding IPPIS implementation within universities. ASUU has consistently argued that IPPIS undermines university autonomy and does not accommodate the unique nature of academic work. ASUU has proposed UTAS as an alternative, emphasizing its alignment with the specific needs of the Nigerian tertiary education sector.
The government’s decision to exempt tertiary institutions from IPPIS is expected to address concerns related to autonomy, strategic planning, and effective personnel management within universities.
